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A MOTION adopting the policy framework to guide the King County executive in the development of a plan for a long-term approach to locating Tent City 4, in collaboration with Seattle Housing and Resource Effort and the Women's Housing, Equality and Enhancement League and faith-based and not-for-profit community organizations in King County; and directing the county executive to negotiate with Seattle Housing and Resource Effort and the Women's Housing, Equality and Enhancement League for future use of nonpark county-owned property under certain conditions while the long-term plan is in development.
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WHEREAS, homelessness is recognized as a growing problem in King County and elsewhere in the nation, and
WHEREAS, an estimated eight thousand King County residents experience homelessness on any given night, and
WHEREAS, thirty-eight people died out of doors while homeless in 2003, and
WHEREAS, King County finds it unacceptable that people are dying on the streets of our community because they have no safe alternative location, and
WHEREAS, King County government is an active participant of the regional Committee to End Homelessness in King County seeking permanent housing alternatives and supportive services, and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Housing and Resource Effort ("SHARE") and the Women's Housing, Equality and Enhancement League ("WHEEL") are nonprofit organizations that advocate and provide services for homeless persons, and
WHEREAS, SHARE/WHEEL has established Tent City 3 in Seattle to provide a safe community for up to one hundred homeless persons every night, and
WHEREAS, Tent City 3 is self-governing, complies with all health and fire regulations, and the residents live by a strict code of conduct providing a drug-free, alcohol-free, and respectful environment, and
WHEREAS, SHARE/WHEEL has successfully worked with churches and neighborhoods to provide acceptable locations for Tent City 3 within the city of Seattle, and the site moves...

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